THE GRAND BALKANS

Plitvice to Sarajevo

Ride to Metropolitan city of Sarajevo – Riding wise, not a demanding day. Long, but touring style. A lot of open roads, vast barren spaces, post war abandoned towns and first glimpses into Turkish (Ottoman) influence. Border crossing is just 15 kms out of Plitvice Park, so have papers ready. From there on, we’ll enjoy the serenity of BiH. Bosnia and Herzegovina is a showcase of beautiful mountains and rivers and the scenery most certainly does not disappoint. Our destination is capital Sarajevo, a metropolitan city, which is a hub between the East and the West, Europe and Asia. Meeting point of trades and diplomacy for 500 years. And it shows. We spend two nights here for a good reason!

Sarajevo – Exploration Day 

In the morning a local guide will pick us up and take us on a 4 hour guided tour of the city. A melting pot of religions, cultures and history, Sarajevo will show us how it was during these historic times, but most importantly, the recent Balkan war that the city endured. We will finish in Turkish old town with many options to explore further on in your free afternoon.

Sarajevo to Durmitor NP

Today we say goodbye to Sarajevo and make our way towards Montenegro. Another ex-Yugoslavian country, mainly known for majestic mountains and canyons, pristine nature with little development and a jaw-dropping coastline where tourism is bustling recently. As we ride out of Bosnia and Herzegovina, the nice winding canyon of the Bistrica river shows us the way to Foča. Border is next. Amazing canyon of Pliva takes us to a starting point from where we start climbing up Durmitor Mountains. Huge treasure of Montenegro, the National park of Durmitor offers a truly rugged and magical experience. Time stands still here. Over 40 peaks at 2000m, amazing erosion sculptures and breathtaking views. Besides Žabljak, and a few key tourist points, you will only notice shepherds and their dogs guarding the sheep. Old traditions still live around here, life is quiet, slow and peaceful. We’re here to see countless stars visible at night, quiet our mind and disconnect from the ever growing tempo of our lives.

Durmitor NP to Dubrovnik

Descend to the coast of the Adriatic Sea. Change of scenery. First, we’re riding two major canyons. River Tara carved the biggest one. Superb ride. We pass Podgorica, capital city of Montenegro and stop at Skadar, a huge lake bordering Albania. Multiple options to continue, weather permitting, we will turn up to Cetinje and climb Mount Lovčen. Small windy roads zig-zags up to 1800 meters, where 500 stairs lead to King Njegoš mausoleum. Spectacular sight. On the other side lies Kotor, another UNESCO walled up city, with lots of history and surrounded by a huge bay. Summer vibe here is full on. After Kotor we reach for the border and soon get off the main road to visit the enchanting Dubrovnik.

Day 7: Dubrovnik – Exploration Day

Relax! Guided 1 hour tour will be held in the old town in the morning, very recommended. Today our main goal is to enjoy the vibe of Dubrovnik. You will have many options to choose from, even riding for those relentless :) Grab a taxi boat to near islands, park yourself on the beach and enjoy the sun, walk the tiny streets of the old town, take a gondola above the city for a splendid view or just relax in the hotel and head to town for dinner in the evening, when everything lights up and comes to life. Dubrovnik truly is romantic and mundane, today a global tourist attraction. Recently even more due to filming of Game of thrones (King’s Landing) and Star Wars. Dubrovnik holds an unprecedented history and is under UNESCO.

Dubrovnik to Hvar Island

We start riding a coastal road called “Magistrala”, a true gem for riders. We’ll follow the coast towards the ferry for the Island of Hvar, but first we need to stop at Ston, a small town at the foot of Peljašac peninsula. This is where the “Chinese wall of Europe” was built in 14 th century and is worth having a quick stop. After Ston we cross the newly built bridge, connecting Croatia as a whole, bypassing 14 kms of Bosnia and Herzegovina. It’s an eye soaring construction. Ferry is a short ride on the island; it is beautiful. Lavender fields, vineyards, stone walls and quaint villages follow the ride up north, to the city of Hvar, where nightlife rarely sleeps, huge yachts searching for a free dock and taxi boats bringing sun seeking guests around the island.

Hvar Island to Murter Island

Two islands, one ferry. We’ll need two hours to get off Hvar, and a bridge to get on Murter. Quick ride to get to Stari Grad, board the ferry and disembark in Split, second biggest city in Croatia. We ride to Murter Island today, another beautiful spot further up in Northern Dalmatia. The ride is pretty relaxed, with some twisty sections. Murter is a great spot for bikers to stop and overnight, while doing the long ride on the coast. And we will do the same.

Murter Island to Southern Slovenia

From Murter we surge north towards Slovenia. The most famous section of this long coastal ride starts just ahead. Beautiful curves carved into the bays, clear blue water and huge imposing gorge of Velebit makes this truly a thrilling ride. Wind often drops from Velebit and creates hard blows, so hold tight for the road to be open. We’ll stop for coffee in Senj, a small town where bikers mostly stop. Closer to Rijeka we’ll hope on expressway to the border to save time. We will get to know the hospitality of southern Slovenia, where a quiet and serene way of life continues and roads are just perfect to explore.

Southern Slovenia to Ljubljana

Last day. No worries, a beautiful day to remember. We can make it short or long, options are endless. Compact Slovenia offers so many roads in each direction with amazing scenery and changing landscape from hour to hour. We will surely ride further into the Karst region, through Lipica Stud Farm, and have a look at the amazing Predjama Castle carved into a rock. There are also two world famous UNESCO caves nearby. Plenty to do, but not to be late, we arrive in Ljubljana in the afternoon, deliver our bikes and meet for our final goodbye dinner where we can share our memories and plan our next adventure.

Depart from Ljubljana

It’s time to bid adieu to the Balkans as our epic journey comes to an end. Depart from Ljubljana, taking with you memories of picturesque landscapes, captivating cities, and the exhilaration of riding through this stunning region. Until we meet again on the next great adventure! Safe travels!